त्वं च सूतकुले जातो विदितः सूतकर्मणि। धर्मज्ञश्चासि वृष्णीनामाहवेष्वपि दारुके
You are born in the charioteer’s lineage, known for charioteer duties, and you are wise in righteousness among the Vrishnis, even in battle, O Daruka.
स जानंश्चरितं कृत्स्नं वृष्णीनां पृतनामुखे। अपयानं पुन सौते मैवं कार्षीः कथंचन
Knowing fully the conduct of the Vrishnis at the front of battle, do not again retreat, O charioteer, in any way.
अपयातं हतं पृष्ठे भ्रान्तं रणपलायितम्। गदाग्रजो दुराधर्षः किं मां वक्ष्यति माधवः
If I flee, am struck from behind, or wander in retreat from battle, what will the mighty Gada, elder brother, say to me, O Madhava?
केशवस्याग्रजो वाऽपि नीलवासा मदोत्कटः। किं वक्ष्यति महाबाहुर्बलदेवः समागतः
Or what will Baladeva, the elder of Kesava, clad in blue, fierce with pride, say when he arrives, O mighty-armed?
किं वक्ष्यतिशिनेर्नप्ता रणसिंहो महारथः। अपयातं रणात्सूत साम्बश्च समितिंजयः
What will Samba, the lion of battle, grandson of Sini, great chariot-warrior, say to me if I flee from the fight, O charioteer?
चारुदेष्णश्च दुर्धर्षस्तथैव गदसारणौ। अक्रूरश्च महाबाहुः किं मां वक्ष्यति सारथे
What will Charudeshna, formidable, and Gada and Sarana, likewise, and mighty-armed Akrura say to me, O charioteer?
शूरं संभावितं शान्तं नित्यं पुरुषमानिनम्। स्त्रियश्च वृष्णिवीराणां किं मांवक्ष्यन्ति संगताः
What will the noble, esteemed, calm, ever proud men, and the women of the Vrishni heroes say to me when gathered together?
प्रद्युम्नोऽयमुपायाति भीतस्त्यक्त्वा महाहवम्। धिगेनमिति वक्ष्यन्ति न तु वक्ष्यन्ति साध्विति
They will say, 'Here comes Pradyumna, frightened, abandoning the great battle—shame on him!' They will not call me virtuous.
धिग्वाचा परिहासोपि मम वा मद्विधस्य वा। मृत्युनाऽभ्यधिकः सौते स त्वं माव्यपयाः पुनः
Words of reproach and mockery, whether directed at me or at one like me, O charioteer, are worse than death; so do not retreat again.
भारं हि मयि संन्यस्य यातो मधुनिहा हरिः। यज्ञं बारतसिंहस्य न हि शक्योऽद्यमर्षितुम्
Hari, the slayer of Madhu, has entrusted the burden to me and departed; the sacrifice of the lion of Bharata cannot be endured today.
कृतवर्मा मया वीरो निर्यास्यन्नेव वारितः। साल्वं निवारयिष्येऽहं तिष्ठ त्वमिति सूतज
The hero Kritavarma was stopped by me as he was setting out; I will restrain Salva—stand firm, O son of the charioteer.
स च संभावयन्मां वै निवृत्तो हृदिकात्मजः। तं समेत्य रणं त्यक्त्वा किं वक्ष्यामि महारथं
And Hridaya’s son, honoring me, withdrew; having met him, abandoning the battle, what will I say to that great warrior?
उपयान्तं दुराधर्षं शङ्खचक्रगदाधरम्। पुरुषं पुण्डरीकाक्षं किं वक्ष्यामि महाभुजम्
What will I say to the mighty-armed one, the invincible, lotus-eyed man, bearing conch, discus, and mace, when he approaches?
सात्यकिं बलदेवं च ये चान्येऽन्धकवृष्णयः। मया स्पर्धन्ति सततं किं नु वक्ष्यामि तानहं
What shall I say to Satyaki, Baladeva, and the other Andhaka and Vrishni warriors, who always compete with me?
त्यक्त्वा रणमिमं सौते पृष्ठतोऽभ्याहतः शरैः। त्वयाऽपनीती विवशो न जीवेयं कथंचन
Having abandoned this battle, Saute, and struck from behind by arrows, if I were to be carried away by you, helpless, I could never go on living.
संनिवर्त रथेनाशु पुनर्दारुकनन्दन। न चैतदेवं कर्तव्यमथापत्सु कथंचन
Turn the chariot back swiftly, O son of Daruka; such conduct must never be done in times of peril.
न जीवितमहं सौते बहु मन्ये कथंचन। अपयातो रणाद्भीतः पृष्ठतोऽभ्याहतः शरैः
I do not value life at all, Saute, if I flee the battle in fear, struck from behind by arrows.
कदाऽपि सूतपुत्र त्वं जानीषे मां भयार्दितम्। अपयातं रणं हित्वा यथा कापुरुषं तथा
Never, O son of the charioteer, shall you see me terrified, fleeing the battle and abandoning the field like a coward.
अयुक्तं तु मया त्यक्तुं संग्रामं दारुकात्मज। मयि युद्धार्थिनि भृशं स त्वं याहि यतो रणम्
It is not proper for me to abandon the fight, O son of Daruka, while I am eager for battle; therefore, go where the battle is.
एवमुक्तस्तु कौन्तेय सूतपुत्रस्ततो मृधे। प्रद्युम्नमब्रवीच्छ्लक्ष्णं मधुरं वाक्यमञ्जसा
Thus addressed, the son of the charioteer then spoke gently and sweetly to Pradyumna in the midst of battle.
न मे भयं रौक्मिणेय संग्रामे यच्छतो हयान्। युद्धज्ञोस्मि च वृष्णीनां नात्र किंचिदतोऽन्यथा
I have no fear, O son of Rukmini, while guiding the horses in battle; I am skilled in the art of war among the Vrishnis—there is nothing otherwise in this.
आयुष्मन्नुपदेशस्तु सारथ्ये वर्ततां स्मृतः। सर्वार्थेषु रथी रक्ष्यस्त्वं चापि भृशपीडितः
O long-lived one, it is remembered that the charioteer must always give counsel; in all matters, the warrior must be protected, especially when you are grievously afflicted.
त्वं हि साल्वप्रयुक्तेन शरेणाभिहतो भृशम्। कश्मलाभिहतो वीर ततोऽहमपयातवान्
You, O hero, were struck hard by an arrow shot by Salva, and overwhelmed by faintness; therefore, I withdrew.
सत्वं सात्वतमुख्याद्य लब्धसंज्ञो यदृच्छया। पश्य मे हयसंयाने शिक्षां केशवनन्दन
Now, chief among the Satvatas, having regained your senses by chance, behold my skill in guiding the horses, O son of Kesava.
दारुकेणाहमुत्पन्नो यथावच्चैव शिक्षितः। वीतभीः प्रविशाम्येतां साल्वस्य महतीं चमूम्
I was born of Daruka and properly trained; now, fearless, I shall enter this great army of Salva.
एवमुक्त्वा ततो वीरो हयान्संचोद्य संगरे। रश्मिभिस्तु समुद्यम्य जवेनाभ्यपतत्तदा
Having spoken thus, the hero urged the horses in battle, skillfully handling the reins, and charged forward with speed.
मण्डलानि विचित्राणि यमकानीतराणि च। सव्यानि च विचित्राणि दक्षिणानि च सर्वशः
He performed wondrous circles, intricate turns, leftward and rightward maneuvers of every kind.
प्रतोदेनाहता राजन्रश्मिभिश्च समुद्यताः। उत्पतन्त इवाकाशं विबभुस्ते हयोत्तमाः
Struck with the whip and guided by the reins, the excellent horses seemed to leap into the sky, O king.
ते हस्तलाघवोपेतं विज्ञाय नृप दारुकिम्। उह्यमाना इव तदा नास्पृशंश्चरणैर्महीम्
Recognizing Daruka's dexterity, O king, the horses, as they were driven, seemed not to touch the ground with their hooves.
सोपसव्यां चमूं तस्य साल्वस्य भरतर्षभ। चकार नातियत्नेन तदद्भुतमिवाभवत्
He skillfully maneuvered around the left flank of Salva's army, O bull among the Bharatas, accomplishing this with little effort, and it seemed a marvel.